NORTH HIGHLANDS — Saturdays usually are meant for free time and watching college football, and while Valley Christian Academy is used to playing on the first day of the weekend, the Lions’ minds clearly were elsewhere.

The Lions (2-3) found themselves in a three-touchdown hole before they attempted to get into the game, but their effort came up short as they fell to Modesto-Big Valley Christian 55-0 at Highlands.

“We just didn’t seem like everybody was into it,” Valley Christian senior running back Teagan Mowry said. “I don’t know if they saw that they were bigger than us. We just started slow and couldn’t pick it up from there. We’ve just got to come out faster next time.”

Starting quarterback Cameron Woodside rallied the offense on a 54-yard drive in the second quarter that looked to breathe a life into the Lions. But when the senior rolled out for a 13-yard pickup down to the 15-yard line, he lay on the ground in pain from a nagging wrist injury. Versatile running back Teagan Mowry was thrust into the role when Woodside left the game.

After Bryan Alvarez rushed for four yards to the 11, Mowry lost four yards on a designed keeper. He gained five yards on a rollout but missed a wide-open Caleb Van Patten on a crossing route that likely would have picked up the first down.

On fourth and five, Mowry rolled left and floated a pass that was picked off by Derek Veneman.

“I did make a mistake when I threw that pick that one time,” said Mowry, who had 43 yards rushing and 27 yards receiving. “I was hoping he was going to be open, and nothing was really there.”

Mowry played one more series at quarterback and Woodside returned for the second half, but Valley Christian coach Todd Conroy made it clear he didn’t like to limit one of his top playmakers at the position.

“We don’t want him in the quarterback role,” Conroy said. “He’s real versatile, and it’s great to have a senior like that.”

Big Valley found plenty of holes in the Lions’ defense, as it rushed to 321 yards. Big Valley also started three of its first five possessions in Valley Christian territory.

Conroy said he believes the loss should serve as an eye-opener for the Lions, who were coming off a 40-6 win over Delta.

“We have to be extremely focused on what winning’s about,” Conroy said. “One in a row doesn’t make a winning streak. I think they were a little bit excited about the fact that they stuck it a team that had beaten them up the last few years in Delta.”